Wisconsin WisDOT Standard Specifications (within FDM) — Section 630

Effective with the December 2018 Letting 393 2019 Standard Spec ifications Section 630 Seeding

630.1Description

(1)This section describes preparing seed beds and furnishing and sowing the required seed on slopes,

appurtenances, and other areas, and on borrow pits and material disposal sites.

(2)This section also describes fu rnishing and sowing temporaryse ed mixture on the slopes and

appurtenances of temporary embankments and roadways.

630.2Materials

630.2.1 Seed 630.2.1.1 General Requirements

(1)Conform to the Wisconsin statutes and Wisconsin administrative code chapter ATCP 20 regarding

noxious weed seed content and labeling. http://docs.legis.wi.gov /statutes/statutes/ http://docs.legis.wi.gov/code/ admin_code/atcp/020/20.pdf

(2)Use seed within one year of the test date appearing on the lab el.

(3)Seed mixtures 70, 70A, 75, and 80 contain wild type forbs and grasses. Wild type is defined as seed

that is derived directly from native, wild stock, including see d that was wild collected and placed into production or has been harvested directly from native stands. 630.2.1.2 Purity and Germination

(1)Test seed according to the methods and procedures used for sam pling and analyzing seed for purity,

germination, and noxious weedse ed content specified in the cur rent edition of Rules for Testing Seed, published by the Association of Official Seed Analysts. 630.2.1.3 Inoculation

(1)Inoculate legume seed (white c lover, red clover, ladino clover , alsike clover, alfalfa, partridge pea,

purple prairie clover, Canada tick -trefoil, and lupine) unless it has been pre-inoculated by the vendor. Follow the inoculation instructions that come with the culture purchases. If applying the seed according to method B, 630.3.3.2 , treat seeds requiring inoculati on with 5 times the quantity o f inoculant recommended in the instructions.

(2)Avoid exposure of the culture or inoculated seed to the sunlig ht, and in no case shall any exposure

exceed 1/2 hour. 630.2.1.4 Storing Seed

(1)Store any seed delivered before use in a way that protects it from damage by heat, moisture, rodents,

or other causes . Discard and replace any previously tested and accepted seed that becomes damaged. 630.2.1.5 Seed Mixtures 630.2.1.5.1 Right-of-Way 630.2.1.5.1.1 Permanent 630.2.1.5.1.1.1 Composition

(1)Seed mixtures for use on the ri ght-of-way and easements shall, unless specified otherwise, be

composed of seeds of the purity, germination, and proportions, by weight, as given in the Table of Highway Seed Mixtures and the Table of Native Seed Mixtures.

(2)Use seed of the species and varieties listed below. If no vari ety is listed, there w ill be no restriction on

the variety furnished, except as follows:

1.Species composed of pure liv e seed (PLS) sha ll contain no n amed or improved vari eties. PLS shall be

grown in Wisconsin or northern Illinois, northeastern Iowa, or eastern Minnesota. Seed produced out-of- state must be grown in one of the following counties:

1.1From northern Illinois:

Boone Bureau Carroll Cook De Kalb Du Page Grundy Henry Jo Daviess Kane Kendall Lake La Salle Lee McHenry Ogle Putnam Rock Island Stevenson Whiteside Will Winnebago

1.2From northeastern Iowa:

Allamakee Benton Black Hawk Bremer Buchanan Cedar Chickasaw Clayton Clinton Delaware Dubuque Fayette Floyd Howard

Effective with the December 2018 Letting 394 2019 Standard Spec ifications Jackson Johnson Jones Linn Mitchell Muscatine Scott Winneshiek

1.3From eastern Minnesota:

Aitkin Anoka Carlton Carver Chisago Dakota Dodge Fillmore Goodhue Hennepin Hous ton Isanti Kanabec La Sueur Mille Lacs Mower Olmsted Pine Ramsey Rice Scott Sherburne Steele Wabasha Washington Winona Wright

2.PLS for seed mixtures 70, 70A, 75, and 80 shall be packaged separately by species and clearly labeled

with the vendor's name, species common and botanical names, gro ss weight, percent PLS, year of harvest and any specialized treatments that have been applied t o ensure or enhance germination. If PLS is not listed, determine PLS by multiplying the percent germination times the percent purity.

3.Minimum percent purity for native for species is 90 percent . If a listed species is no t available, substitutions

may be made with engineer's approval and must be documented.

(3)Mix native species at the proj ect site. Clean and debeard seeds having awns or excessive hairs before

mixing. SPECIES COMMON NAME SPECIES BOTA NICAL NAME ACCEPTABLE VARIETIES Kentucky Bluegrass Poa pratensis Low Maintenance Red Fescue Festuca rubra Creeping Hard Fescue Festuca ovina Improved var. duriuscula Tall Fescue Festuca arundinacea Improved turf type Salt Grass Puccinella distans Fult’s Puccinella distans Salty Redtop Agrostis alba Timothy Phleum pratense Canada Wild Rye [1] Elymus canadensis Perennial Ryegrass Lolium perenne Perennial Ryegrass Loliu m perenne Improved Fine Annual Ryegrass Lolium multiflorum Alsike Clover Trifolium hybridum Red Clover Trifolium pratense White Clover Trifolium repens Japanese Millet Echinochola crusgalli var. frumentacea Annual Oats Avena sativa Alfalfa Medicago sativa Bromegrass Bromus inermis Orchardgrass Dactylis glomerata Ladino Clover Trifolium repens Ladino var. latum Agricultural Rye Secale cereale Winter Wheat Triticum aestivum [1] Pure live seed

Effective with the December 2018 Letting 395 2019 Standard Spec ifications TABLE 630-1 HIGHWAY SEED MIXTURES

SPECIES PURITY minimum % GERMINATION minimum % MIXTURE PROPORTIONS in percent NO.10 NO.20 NO.3 0 NO.40 NO.60 Kentucky Bluegrass 98 85 40 6 10 35 Red Fescue 97 85 25 30 20 Hard Fescue 97 85 24 25 20 Tall Fescue 98 85 40 Salt Grass 98 85 15 R e d t o p 9 2 8 5 5 Timothy 98 90 12 Canada Wild Rye PLS[1] 1 0 Perennial Ryegrass 97 90 20 30 Improved Fine Perennial Ryegrass 96 85 20 25 Annual Ryegrass 97 90 30 Alsike Clover 97 90 4 Red Clover 98 90 4 W h i t e C l o v e r 9 5 9 0 1 0 Japanese Millet 97 85 20 Annual Oats 98 90[1] 2 0 [1] Substitute winter wheat for an nual oats in fall plantings star ted after September 1.

Effective with the December 2018 Letting 396 2019 Standard Spec ifications TABLE 630-2 NATIVE SEED MIXTURES

SPECIES SPECIES BOTANICAL NAME PURITY & GERMINATION minimum % MIXTURE PROPORTIONS in percent NO. 70 NO. 70A NO. 75 NO. 80 FORBES Canada Anemone Anemone canadensis P L S 2 Butterflyweed Asclepias tuberosa PLS 2 New England Aster Aster novae-angliae PLS 2 2 Partridge-pea Chamaecrista (Cassia) fasciculata PLS 2 Purple Prairie Clover Dalea (Petalostemum) purpurea PLS 2 2 4 Canada Tick-trefoil Desmodium canadense P L S 2 Flowering Spurge Euphorbia corollata PLS 2 Wild Geranium Geranium maculatum P L S 2 Western Sunflower Helianthus occidentalis PLS 3 2 Rough Blazingstar Liatris aspera PLS 2 Prairie Blazingstar Liatris pycnostachya P L S 2 Lupine Lupinus perennis PLS 3 Wild Bergamot Monarda fistulosa P L S 2 Horse Mint Monarda punctata PLS 2 Yellow Coneflower Ratibida pinnata PLS 2 2 Blackeyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta PLS 1 Showy Goldenrod Solidago speciosa PLS 2 2 Spiderwort Tradescantia ohiensis PLS 2 2 Golden Alexanders Zizia aurea P L S 2 GRASSES Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardi PLS 15 15 10 Sideoats Grama Bouteloua curtipendula PLS 15 20 20 25 Canada Wildrye Elymus Canadensis PLS 15 15 35 23 Slender Wheatgrass Elymus trachycaulus P L S 2 0 Junegrass Koeleria macrantha PLS 5 Annual Ryegrass Lolium multiflorum [1] 1 0 1 0 Switchgrass Panicum virgatum P L S 1 0 Salt Grass Puccinella distans [1] 2 Little Bluestem Schizachyrium (Andropogon) scoparium PLS 15 20 10 10 Indiangrass Sorgastrum nutans PLS 15 10 ALTERNATE FORBES Sky Blue Aster Aster azureus PLS [2] [2] White Wild Indigo Baptisia leucantha PLS [2] [2] Pale Purple Coneflower Echinacea pallida PLS [2] [2] White Prairie Clover Petalostemum candidum PLS [2] [2] Stiff Goldenrod Solidago rigida PLS [2] [2] Hoary Vervain Verbena stricta PLS [2] [2] [1] Provide the minimum purity and germination specified in 630.2. 1.5.1.1.1(3) in the t able of highway seed mixtures. [2] The contractor may, if the engi neer approves, substitute an alternate forb for a requi red forb that is not available using the same percent age as specified for the required forb. Use a different alternate forb for each

Effective with the December 2018 Letting 397 2019 Standard Spec ifications unavailable required forb. Provide documentation showing that a required forb is not ava ilable before using an alternate. 630.2.1.5.1.1.2 Mixture

(1)The contractor shall select a see d mixture or mixtures that meet with the engineer’s approval, and

unless specified otherwise in t he contract, shall conform to th e following:

1.Use seed mixture No. 10 where average loam, heavy clay, or moist soils predominate.

2.Use seed mixture No. 20 w here light, dry, well-drained, sandy, or gravelly soils predominate and for all

high cut and fill slopes generally exceeding 6 to 8 feet, excep t where using No. 70.

3.Use seed mixture No. 10 or No. 20 on all ditches, inslopes, median areas, and low fills, except where

using No. 30 or No. 70.

4.Use seed mixture N o. 30 for medians and on slopes or ditches generally within 15 feet of the shoulder

where a salt-t olerant turf is preferred.

5.Use seed mixture No. 40 in urban or other areas where a law n type turf is preferred.

6.Use seed mixture No. 60 on ly on areas, the contract designa tes or the engineer specifies. Use it as a

cover seeding for newly graded w et areas or as a nurse crop for specified wetland seed mixtures. The contractor shall not apply it to flooded areas.

7.Use seed mixture Nos. 70 and 70A on slopes and upland areas the contract designa tes or the engineer

specifies. Use seed mixture No. 70 on loamy soils and seed mixture No. 70A on sandy soils.

8.Use seed mixture No. 75 w here native grasses are desired for erosion control.

9.Use seed mixture No. 80 on inslopes where a salt tolerants eed mix containing nativ e grasses is desired.

630.2.1.5.1.2 Temporary

(1)Under the Seeding Temporary bid item, use a temporary seed mix ture conforming to 630.2.1.5.1.4 .

Use oats in spring and summer pl antings. Use winter wheat or ry e for fall plantings started after September 1. 630.2.1.5.1.3 Nurse Crop

(1)If seeding bare soil with either mixture 70, 70A, 75, or 80, i nclude the Seeding Nurse Crop bid item.

630.2.1.5.1.4 Borrow Pits a nd Material Disposal Sites

(1)For seeding borrow pits and material disposal sites beyond the right-of-way, use seed mixtures

conforming to seed mixture 10, 20, 70, 70A, or 75 of 630.2.1.5.1.1 or a borrow pit mixture composed of seeds of the species, purity, germination and proportions, by weight as given below: PERMANENT SPECIES % MINIMUM PURITY % MINIMUM GERMINATION Alfalfa 98 90 Bromegrass 85 85 Orchardgrass 80 85 Timothy 98 90 Red Clover 98 90 Alsike Clover 97 90 Ladino Clover 95 90 Kentucky Bluegrass 98 85 TEMPORARY SPECIES % MINIMUM PURITY % MINIMUM GERMINATION Annual Oats 98 90 Agricultural Rye 97 85 Winter Wheat 95 90 NURSE CROP SPECIES % MINIMUM PURITY % MINIMUM GERMINATION Annual Oats 98 90 Annual Ryegrass 97 90 Winter Wheat 95 90

(2)For the borrow pit mixture use , by weight, 60 percent temporar y species seeds and 40 percent

permanent species seeds.

(3)For the temporary component, use any combination of temporary seeds listed in the table above.

Effective with the December 2018 Letting 398 2019 Standard Spec ifications (4) For the permanent component, use s eeds from not more than 4 of the permanent species listed in the table above in any combination.

(5)When nurse crop is required for spring seeding before June 15, use annual oats. For fall seeding after

October 15, use winter wheat, or annual ryegrass.

630.3Construction

630.3.1 General

(1)If not protecting with a mulch cover, perform seeding, except Nos. 60, 70 and 70A mixtures at times of

the year when temperature and mois ture conditions are suitable for seeding, except during midsummer.

(2)Perform seeding, except Nos. 60, 70 and 70A mixtures, in conjunction with mulching as specified in

627 at any time the engineer allows.

(3)The contractor may perform seedi ng of Nos. 60, 70 and 70A mixtures at any time soil conditions are

suitable, except between June 15 and October 15, unless the engineer allows otherwise.

(4)Perform seeding with the selected seed mixture, sown at the specified rate.

630.3.2 Preparation of Seed Bed

(1)Complete grading, shouldering, topsoiling, and fertilizing, if part of the work under contract, before

permanent seeding, except the c ontractor may place the fertilizer and seed mixture in one operation if using equipment designed for the purpose.

(2)Just before seeding, work the area being seeded with discs, ha rrows, or other appropriate equipment

to obtain a reasonably even and loose seedbed. Place topsoil as specified in 625.3.3. 630.3.3 Sowing

(1)Select the method of sowing from either method A, method B, me thod C, or an appropriate

combination of methods A, B, and C. Obtain the engineer's approval for the sowing method and specific procedures used for each seed mixture used before sowi ng that mixture. 630.3.3.1 Method A

(1)Sow the selected seed mixture us ing equipment adapted to the p urpose, or by scattering it uniformly

over the areas to be seeded. Li ghtly rake or drag to cover the seed with approximatel y 1/4 inch of soil. After seeding, lightly roll or c ompact the areas using suitable equipment, preferably the cultipacker type, when the engineer j udges the seedbed too loose, or if the seedbed contains clods that might reduce seed germination. The cont ractor shall not roll slopess teeper than 1:3.

(2)If scattering seed by hand, perfo rm this work with satisfactor y hand seeders and only when the air is

calm enough to prevents eeds from blowing away. 630.3.3.2 Method B

(1)Sow or spread the seed upon t he prepared bed using a stream or spray of water under pressure and

operated from an engineer-approved machine designed for that pu rpose. Place the selected seed mixture and water into a tank, provided within the machine, in sufficient quantities that when spraying the seed on a given area it is uniformly spread at the required application rate. During this process, keep the tank contents stirred or agitated to provide uniform distribution. Spread the tank contents within one hour after adding the seed to the tank. The engineer will reject seed that remains mixed with the water for longer than one hour. The engineer will not require dragging or rolling. 630.3.3.3 Method C

(1)For spring seeding of seed mix tures 70 and 70A into existing ground cover, mow existing vegetation to

4 inches or less in height 2 to 4 weeks before seeding. Ten to 14 days after mowing, spray with vegetation control herbicide conforming to 632.2.12 .

(2)For fall seeding of seed mixtures 70 and 70A into existing ground cover, mow existing vegetation to 4

inches or less in height 4 to 6 weeks before seeding. Ten to 14 days after mowing, spray with vegetation control herbicide conforming to 632.2.12 . Retreat with vegetation control herbicide 10 to 14 days after initial application if live vegetation persists.

(3)Seed with a rangeland type drill with one or more seed boxes t hat can be calibrated independently to

deliver different sized seeds uniformly at the required rate an d equipped with a rear-mounted press wheel for each seed drop tube . If seeding into existing vegetation or thatch, use a rangeland type drill equipped with a no-till attachme nt that can cut through the veg etation or thatch in front of the V disc and seed drop tube. If the configur ation of the area to be seeded allows, apply seed at 1/2 the specified seed rate and apply t he second 1/2 in a perpendicular direction.

Effective with the December 2018 Letting 399 2019 Standard Spec ifications 630.3.3.4 Borrow Pits and Material Disposal Sites

(1)Seed borrow pits, and material d isposal sites off the right-of -way, with the selected seed mixture

specified in 630.2.1.5.1.4 . Consult with the landowner or the landowner’s agent when sele cting the seed mixture. 630.3.3.5 Seeding Rates 630.3.3.5.1 Right-of-Way

(1)Use the following sowing rate for seeds in pounds per 1000 square feet:

- Seed mixture No. 10 at 1.5 pounds - Seed mixture No. 20 at 3 pounds - Seed mixture No. 30 at 2 pounds - Seed mixture No. 40 at 2 pounds - Seed mixture No. 60 at an equivalent seeding rate of 1.5 poun ds [1] - Seed mixture No. 70 or 70A at 0.4 pounds - Seed mixture No. 75 at an equivalent seeding rate of 0.7 poun ds [1] - Seed mixture No. 80 at an equivalent seeding rate of 0.8 poun ds[1] - Temporary seeding at 3 pounds - Nurse crop seeding at 0.8 pounds [1] Determine the actual seeding rate by multiplying the equivalen t seeding rate by the sum of the unadjusted and adjusted percentages of the various species in the seed mixtures as sown.

(2)The unadjusted percentage equals the minimum percent of purity and germination specified in the

table of seed mixtures contained in 630.2.1.5.1.1.1 for the applicable species.

(3)Obtain the adjusted percentage for each of the PLS species by dividing the specif ied percentage of

the species by the product of the percent of purity and the per cent of germination for each of the PLS species as delivered. 630.3.3.5.2 Borrow Pits and Material Disposal Areas

(1)For seeding borrow pits and ma terial disposal off the right-of-way, sow the seed mixtures specified in

630.2.1.5.1.4 at the following rates per pound per 1000 square feet: - Seed mixture No. 10 at 0.75 pound - Seed mixture No. 20 at 1 pound - Seed mixture No. 70 or 70A at 0.4 pounds - Seed mixture No 75 at 0.7 pounds - Borrow pit mixture at 1.5 pounds 630.3.3.6 Establishment Period for Native Seeding

(1)During the growing season afte r planting seed mixture 70 or 70 A, mow all seeded areas twice as the

engineer directs. Mow vegetation back to 6 inches when it has r eached a height of at least 12 inches.

(2)During the growing season afte r planting seed mixture 70 or 70 A, eradicate the following species from

the seeded areas as soon as they become evident: SPECIES COMMON NAME SPEC IES BOTANICAL NAME Musk thistle Carduus nutans Spotted knapweed Centaurea maculosa Canada thistle Cirsium arvense Bull thistle Cirsium vulgare Field bindweed Convolvulus arvensis Leafy spurge Euphorbia esula Sweetclover Melilotus species Wild parsnip Pastinaca sativa

(3)Eradicate by hand pulling or by applying a vegetation control herbicide conforming to 632.2.12 to

individual plants.

630.4Measurement

(1)The department will measure the Seeding bid items by the pound acceptably completed.

(2)The department will measure quant ities based on net weights of seed shipments, or on quantities

weighed on department-approved sc ales the contractor furnishes.

Effective with the December 2018 Letting 400 2019 Standard Spec ifications (3) The department will make deductions for all quantities wasted or not actually incorporated in the work according to the contract.

(4)The department will determine the equivalent pounds of seed fu rnished and applied by dividing the

actual pounds of seed applied by the sum of the unadjusted and adjusted percent ages of the various species in the seed mixture sown.

(5)The department will use the unadj usted and adjusted percentages determined in 630.3.3.5.1 .

630.5Payment

(1)The department will pay for measured quantities at the contrac t unit price under the following bid

items: ITEM NUMBER DESCRIPTION UNIT

630.0100 - 0199 Seeding (mixture) LB

630.0200 Seeding Temporary LB

630.0300 Seeding Borrow Pit LB

630.0400 Seeding Nurse Crop LB

(2)Payment for the Seeding bid ite ms is full compensation for pro viding, handling, and storing all seed;

for providing the required cultur e and inoculating seed as spec ified; and for preparing the seed bed, sowing, covering and firming t he seed. If the landowner does no t want the pit or material disposal site seeded, or seeded with any of the mixtures allowed, the departm ent will not pay for fertilization or seeding of those areas.

Effective with the December 2018 Letting 401 2019 Standard Spec ifications Section 631 Sodding

631.1Description

(1)This section describes furnis hing and laying live sod on the s houlders, slopes, ditches, or at other

designated locations, and constructing sod ditch checks or simi lar structures as the plans show, the contract specifies or as the engineer directs.

631.2Materials

631.2.1 Sod

(1)The sod shall consist of a dense , well-rooted growth of perman ent and desirable grasses, indigenous

to the general locality it is to be placed, that is practicably free from weeds or undesirable grasses. When cutting the sod, the grass should be approximately 2 inches long. If longer, cut the grass to approximately this length and ra ke the sod free of debris.

(2)Cut the sod in uniform commercial size strips.

(3)Make the sod thickness as uniform as possible, approximately 3/4 inch or more, depending on the

nature of the sod, so that pract icably all of the dense root sy stem is retained, but exposed, in the sod strip and so that handling the so d causes no undue tearing or breaking.

(4)If the sod is in a dry condition such that cutting it causes c rumbling or breaking, the contractor shall, at

least 12 hours before cutting, apply water to it in sufficient quantities to provide a well-moistened sod throughout the depth it is cut.

(5)Sod provided under the Sod Lawn bi d item shall have a lush app earance, be dense, have a uniform

texture, and be bright in color throughout. The sod shall not c ontain blade widths of 1/4 inch or greater. Provide a weed free sod that cont ains no more than 3/8 inch of thatch over the base soil. The sod shall consist of a blend or mix of at least 4 fine-leafed turf grasses. At least 2/3 of the grasses by weight, as determined by initial seeding proportions, consists of improved/elite type Kentucky bluegrass varieties.

(6)Under the Sod Erosion Control bid item, provide a low maintena nce type, dense, and of uniform

texture. Provide a sod free of noxious weeds and that contains a combined total of 3 percent or less grassy weeds, sedges, broadleaf weeds, or coarse grasses. The s od shall consist of a blend or mix of at least 4 fine-leafed turf gra sses. At least 70 percent of the grasses by weight, as determined by initial seeding proportions, shall consist of acceptable low maintenanc e varieties or species as listed by the UW Extension. The contractor may obtain this list from the UW Madison, horticulture department, turf grass extension.

(7)The Sod Erosion Control SandyS oil bid item shall conform to a ll requirements for Sod Erosion Control

and shall be commercially produced on soil having 10 percent or less organic matter by mass. 631.2.2 Water

(1)When watering sodded areas, use clean water, free of impurities or substances that might injure the

sod.

631.3Construction

(1)The contractor shall provide the type of sod the plan designates or the engineer directs consistent with

the following criteria:

1.Under the Sod Lawn bid item , use in areas where the property owner provides all necessary maintenance,

including mowing, fertilizing, a nd watering, and where the primary objective is for aesthetics. Do not use in urban or suburban areas where main tenance is limited to mowing by the property owner or municipality.

2.Under the Sod Erosion Cont rol bid item, use on limited areas of a project wher e a quick stand of

vegetation is needed for erosion control purposes, or in urban or suburban areas where the primary objective is aesthetics, but wher e maintenance is limited to mo wing.

3.Under the Sod Erosion Contro l Sandy Soil bid item, use in t he same areas as SodEr osion Control, but

where sandy or gravelly soils predominate. 631.3.1 Preparing the Earth Bed

(1)Before sodding, construct the proposed area to the required cross-section and contour, and round the

tops and bottoms of the slopes to a minimum 4-foot radius curve . Ensure that the sodded areas are free from stones, roots, or other undesirable foreign material. Loosen the soil on the sodded area to at least one inch deep and bring it to a reasonably fine granular texture by equipment or hand methods adapted to the purpose. 631.3.2 Placing the Sod

(1)Moisten the earth bed that the sod is being placed on to the l oosened depth, if not naturally sufficiently

moist. Do not place frozen sod, n or place sod on frozen soil. P lace the sod on the bed within

Source: Wisconsin Standard Specifications for Highway and Structure Construction, 2019 Edition. Pages 402–409 of 601.

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631 Sodding